'Lost' cost may force retreat from Hawaii

February 01, 2005|By ZAP2IT.COM

The high cost of shooting a TV series in Hawaii may cause the producers of "Lost" to seek a new home for the show.

The ABC series, which has helped the network make a big ratings turnaround this season, films on a soundstage and several outdoor locations on the island of Oahu. It's provided an economic boon to the state's film industry and provided crew jobs to a number of locals.

But filming a movie or TV show in Hawaii typically costs 25 percent to 35 percent more than shooting in Los Angeles does, and that has "Lost's" studio, Touchstone TV, concerned.

"Nobody wants to move, but this is a business, and we must consider options to cut expenses," producer Jean Higgins told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Touchstone spends between $2.5 million and $2.8 million per episode to make "Lost," a high number for any series, and will likely lose money on the show this season despite its status as a top-10 show in the Nielsen rankings. The show's reliance on location shooting--its soundstage contains only one major set--contributes to that cost.

State officials are working to come up with a plan, possibly involving tax credits and other incentives, to help keep the show in Hawaii.